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(No Model.)

E. P CARTER.

VEHICLE SPRING.

No. 298,553. Patented May 13. 1884.

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EGBERT P. CARTER, OF ARCADE, NEWV YORK.

VEHICLE- SPRING.

SPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,553, dated May 13, 1884.

Application filed August 22, 18825. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EGBERT P. CARTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arcade, in the county of Vyoming and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in Vehicle-Springs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in springs for buggies, wagons, &c., one object being to greatly reduce the weight of and get thereby a light side spring.

The invention as constructed and applied will be understood by reference to the following specification and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of my side spring; Fig. 2, plan of same; Fig. 3, enlarged View of one end with my saddleclip attached; Fig. 4, top plan, full size, of sad dle-olip; Fig. 5, longitudinal cross section through the center ofFig. 1 Fig. 6, top plan of two side springs with two cross-springs; Fig. 7, side elevation of end spring,showing the connecting-ears at ends; Fig. 8, detail of one end of cross-spring, showing the lower leaf bent over to unite with side spring.

A represents aside spring,constructed with a long foundation-leaf, a, its ends bent down and over into a loop or ring to attach to the end spring or bar. A second long leaf,-b, sits on the first, being a little shorter, and on this are short springs, c 0, set near the ends of the long springs, and leaving a wide space in the middle. Clips d (1 hold the springs in position, but do not prevent their expanding in direction of their length. This is accomplished as follows: The long springs are fastened together in the center, and the clip d will only be attached to the upper leaves, 0 b, and clip (1 only to the short upper leaf, 0, at the other end, thus permitting the leaves a and-b to lengthen and shorten through the clips lengthwise, and giving full play to the center as well as ends of the springs. One great object in this construction of the side springs and in thus placing the supporting or smaller springs, c c, is that they allow the buggy-body or box to be supported at a uniform distance from the ends of the springs, (in an ordinary buggy it will be about twelveinchesfrom each end,) and will thus prevent the forward and back and side motion, and also allow the spring to act its whole length and distribute the weight on four equal places on the two side springs, and by the partial attachment of the clips allows the two (or more) long leaves to act free and independent of each other and flexible their whole length.

In springs, usually, the give is only at the ends. Springs have before been made with the center left open, and supplementary leaves set 011 just each side of the center, but not near the ends, leaving a wide central space, and none set with the clips loose, so as to get a free action of the long leaves through the clips, as before explained. By this arrangement only two long leaves will be necessary for any ordinary buggy for two or three persons, as the load will be evenly divided at or near the ends of the springs,relieving the strain on the center. To aid in holding these springs,and also allow the free movement of the long leaves clear through, I make a saddle-clip, B, as in Fig. 3, (to be used in connection with the springs,) and in Figs. 4. and 5, full size. It is a single casting, made to set flat on top of the spring, to receive the usual cross-piece or crosssprings, and is thicker at one end, f, than at the other, f, (see Figs. 8 and 5,) so as to overcome the slant or down curve of the spring. It has two downwardlyprojecting hollow lugs, g, in connection with the ears h h, which come down each side of the springs a b c, to cover and hold the usual bolts going through the holes ii, all of which hold the clips to the springs. It is fastened to the upper leaf or leaves of the spring by a pin or short bolt and nut through the center hole, 70, in the casting, it being hollowed out for that purpose, as shown in Fig. 5 at Z, to prevent the bolt or nut from projecting above the surface of the clip. By confining one or more of the leaves at one end gnly to the clip or to the top leaf, leaving the other end of same leaf or leaves clear, allows the spring to lengthen through its entire length, or the clip at one end may be confined to one leaf and the other clip to two or more, I

thus giving the long leaves their full capacity of spring, or all theleaves maybe clipped together at one end only, which will also allow IOO the long leaves to lengthen at one end only. In this case the center must be clipped, and to this clip the rub-iron for the wheel may be attached.

Fig. 7 shows an end spring, D, bottom side up, with two ears or lugs, m m, forming a part of the main leaf,,one lug being bent up and the other forged on, a pin or bolt going through both lugs, between which the ends of the side springs go. This simple construction of the lugs on the spring I believe to be new. Fig. 8 shows a cross-spring (or end spring,) D, with the ends of the mai-n'leaf turned over into a C and fiat on the end 71, to unite with the side springs, A A, as at p 1), Fig. 6. The 0 part passes under and in closes the side spring, making thereby a longer spring and more flexible. Both springs are held together by bolts or clips. This I believe to be a new method of constructing the attaching end of a spring. I also believe it to be new to attach any cross springs to side springs, no matter how constructed, to set the body 011 said cross-springs in addition to the ends of the side springs being attached to the usual end pieces of side springbuggies, or to end springs. The cross springs may be hinged to the side springs or fastened permanently thereto.

leaves, 0, provided at each clip (1 d, and said clips d (1, one of which is attached to one leaf 0 or more, and the other one to one or more different leaves of the spring, the long springs being united in the center, substantially as set forth, and for the purpose described.

2. The beveled-top sadd1e-clip B, constructed as described, and in combination with the side springs, A A, or side springs and crosssprings, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EGBERT I. CARTER.

IVitnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, G-Eo. A. BURNETT. 

